Signed and dated lower left: F. Verheyden 1864

François Verheyden (Belgian, 1806-1890) Picking apples, 1864 Oil on canvas 28-1/4 x 42-3/4 inches (71.8 x 108.6 cm) Signed and dated lower left: F. Verheyden 1864 Property from the Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morris Graham Sr., El Paso, Texas Betty Jo Graham, affectionately known to her friends as BJ, led a remarkable life full of passion for the arts and service to her community and country. At the age of twelve, BJ began vocal training with the esteemed Mini Ferguson Owens at the University of Wichita, where she later attended college to further pursue musical excellence. She put her singing career on hold during World War II to serve her country, contributing to the Cessna AT-17 training program and working as an electrical wiring diagram analyst on the Enola Gay project. BJ's heart remained with music, and after the war she continued to refine her vocal skills, working with notable figures like Maude Douglas Tweedy in New York and John Charles Thomas in California. BJ married Robert Morris Graham, Sr. in 1975, their love story full of adventures spanning the globe from their home base in El Paso, Texas. BJ drove the couple's artistic patronage, serving as a trustee of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and a board member of both the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra and El Paso Pro-Musica. This support extended throughout the community, to the El Paso Opera, Holocaust Museum, the El Paso Museum of Art, and many more. BJ's belief in the transformative power of art and culture cemented the Graham family's role in the community as they nurtured its musical and artistic landscape. Together, BJ and Robert established a legacy dedicated to their community, imbued with a sense of passion and philanthropy that will be remembered and cherished for generations. Please see lots 69033, 69042, and 69043 for more from the Graham Estate. HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Lined canvas. Minor frame abrasion at edges. Very slight yellowing to the varnish layer. Faint, finely patterned craquelure throughout. Minor surface dirt and dust. Not examined out of frame due to size. Under UV: varnish fluoresces green unevenly. Brushy retouching at edges. Extensive but very finely applied retouching in the sky, appearing to address craquelure. Additional small dots and dashes of finely applied retouching scattered throughout, primarily affecting the middle ground and the costumes of the figures. Framed Dimensions 35.5 X 50.5 X 4 Inches